Method and Apparatus to Initiate Point-To-Point Call During Shared-Channel Delivery of Broadcast Content in a Wireless Telephone Network

1. A wireless mobile station for use in a wireless communications network, comprising: a transceiver; a speaker; a microphone; a user interface; a manager, coupled to the transceiver, speaker, microphone, and user interface, and programmed to perform operations comprising: receiving operator initiation of an outgoing point-to-point call to a remote station while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel; responsive to the operator initiation, determining a call-handling preference and according thereto performing operations including one of the following: sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and additional messaging expressing disinterest in continued receipt of the broadcast content; sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and further messaging expressing interest in continued receipt of the broadcast content, the further messaging containing election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct both concurrently; waiting for signaling from the network to complete the point-to-point call.

2. A wireless mobile station, comprising: transceiver means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals; speaker means for producing audio output from electrical input; microphone means for producing electrical output from audio input; user interface means for converting human input to machine-readable input and converting machine-readable output to human-readable output; manager means, coupled to the transceiver means, speaker means, microphone means, and user interface means, for performing operations comprising: receiving operator initiation of an outgoing point-to-point call to a remote station while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel; responsive to the operator initiation, determining a call-handling preference and according thereto performing operations including one of the following: sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and additional messaging expressing disinterest in continued receipt of the broadcast content; sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and further messaging expressing interest in continued receipt of the broadcast content, the further messaging containing election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct both concurrently; waiting for signaling from the network to complete the point-to-point call.

3. A wireless mobile station for use in a wireless communications network, comprising: a transceiver; a speaker; a microphone; a user interface; a manager, coupled to the transceiver, speaker, microphone, and display, and programmed to perform operations comprising: receiving network notification of an incoming point-to-point call from a remote station while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel; soliciting operator input as to whether to accept or reject the incoming call; if the operator rejects the call, sending the network notification of rejection; if the operator accepts the call, sending the network notification of acceptance and performing further operations comprising: determining call handling preferences as to prescribed categories of operating conditions including at least the following: (1) whether to continue receiving the broadcast content, (2) election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently; sending the network further messaging stating the determined call handling preferences, and waiting for signaling from the network to complete the point-to-point call.

4. A wireless mobile station for use in a wireless communications network, comprising: transceiver means for wireless transmitting and receiving signals; speaker means for producing audio output from electrical input; microphone means for producing audio output from electrical input; user interface means for converting human input to machine-readable input and converting machine-readable output to human-readable output; manager means, coupled to the transceiver means, speaker means, microphone means, and user interface means, for performing operations comprising: receiving network notification of an incoming point-to-point call from a remote station while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel; soliciting operator input as to whether to accept or reject the incoming call; if the operator rejects the call, sending the network notification of rejection; if the operator accepts the call, sending the network notification of acceptance and performing further operations comprising: determining call handling preferences as to prescribed categories of operating conditions including at least the following: (1) whether to continue receiving the broadcast content, (2) election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently; sending the network further messaging stating the determined call handling preferences, and waiting for signaling from the network to complete the point-to-point call.